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On the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, Joseph P. McDonald manned the switchboard at Fort Shafter in Hawaii when he received the alarming message that radar had detected a large number of planes approaching from the north, heading fast for Oahu.
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Motorists who use the Pango mobile app to pay at parking meters in Scranton will get reimbursed for any inadvertent overcharges since Sept. 1, the new operator of the city’s parking system said.
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The ailing Valley View High School pool is temporarily closed. School board directors unanimously voted Wednesday to decommission the natatorium and preserve the area until funding becomes available
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Editor: May is Mental Health Awareness Month and NAMI’s Scranton Chapter is celebrating its 35th year of advocating for and supporting individuals and their families who live with mental illness.

Over those 35 years we have seen great improvements in the care for individuals living with mental illness. This improved care has led to a recovery movement within the mental health community, which has enabled many individuals to lead full and successful lives.

The recovery movement is represented by five key concepts as described by mental health advocate Mary Ellen Copeland. They are: hope, personal responsibility, education, self-advocacy and support.

People living with mental illness are able to live productive lives. However, without access to psychiatric hospitals, safe housing and mental health professionals, individuals often fall through the cracks.

In my experience, support is the most important of these concepts. Good medical care, support of family and friends and the support from community resources make a big difference.

Recent cuts in funding for mental health services are making it very difficult for individuals to get the treatment they need. Public policies are having a negative impact on thousands of Pennsylvanians living with mental illness.

Nationally we are becoming increasingly aware of the potential tragic outcomes that can result from a lack of supports.

At a time when medical advances are allowing people with mental illness to recover, our public policy is creating barriers for many to do so. As a society we must do a better job of supporting individuals affected by mental illness.

The costs of supporting recovery are far less than the failure to do so. Please join NAMI PA Scranton in support of those living with mental illness.

OWEN DOUGHERTY JR.

PRESIDENT,

NAMI SCRANTON

Right team

Editor: Any person who wore the uniform of our country is a hero in my mind.

Recently I spoke to a veteran of two wars and told him I was reading a book on the life of Gen. George Patton. His reply was, “What a great general he was and a good thing he was on our side.”

He was correct. As I pondered his words I concluded it was a good thing all who served were on our side.

May all of our protectors be praised.

CARL PIETRZYKOWSKI

SCRANTON

Give thanks

Editor: There are many sacrifices we encounter in our lives. But nothing can compare to the sacrifices that an American soldier endures. They leave their homes and families to fight in foreign lands. Some make the ultimate sacrifice — their lives.

Memorial Day is a day to honor our fallen heroes. It’s a time to be solemn and give thanks to all our military.

This Memorial Day please take a moment of silence and offer up a prayer of thanksgiving for our military.

I miss my nephew, Marine Lance Cpl. Jacob Walter Beisel, who was killed fighting for our country on March 31, 2006, in Iraq.

TINA AUGELLO

HAWLEY

Patriotic caring

Editor: I am so proud of the country music academy for putting together its “All-Star Salute to Our Troops” that was televised Tuesday night.

It was a celebration of what our country truly stands for and that was in the honor, respect, prayers and hope that was shown our military men and woman. Not only did they sing their praises but they included the many talented men and woman in uniform on stage. After each performance, the professional singers made it a point to honor the military singers who stood beside them and sang their hearts out.

Many of the servicemen and women told meaningful and heartfelt stories in honor of someone they have lost during the war against terror.

This display of patriotism is rare but welcome. God bless our troops and the United States. Go out Memorial Day and be part of this country that honors our troops and show the world that we are the most caring country in the world.

JAMES GRAY

DALTON

Reactive pattern

Editor: Jay Carney says the president and secretary just found out about the VA delay cover-ups when the media broke the story in recent weeks and they are mad. Veterans and veterans groups such as the American Legion have been complaining about long delays since 2009. Why didn’t the secretary take an in-depth look into the problems then?

It seems this president and his Cabinet always are reacting to problems they should have been aware of and solving before they got out of control. No one knew about the problems with the Affordable Care Act website rollout though the programmers said they told people it had not yet been tested. Nobody knew of Ambassador Chris Stevens’ plea for added security for the 9/11 anniversary in spite of two attacks and the killing of the British ambassador.

The IRS shenanigans were a surprise and the intrusiveness of the NSA was unknown until Edward Snowden let the cat out of the bag. Attorney General Eric Holder was surprised to learn guns were ending up in the hands of drug lords under “Fast and Furious.”

It is not a foreign concept that department heads are supposed to be aware of what is happening in their department and then manage it. A few years ago when some corporate presidents played dumb about “funny accounting” the government passed a law that said executives are indeed responsible for what happens in their company and must sign off on all information that the company puts out.

It appears this president and his Cabinet are too important to actually “steer the ship of state.” When it lands on the shoals they get upset and vow to fix it right away. I hope our next president is a manager and leader instead of an intellectual lawyer.

HARRY (SKIP) HILLIER

HONESDALE

Costly cuts

Editor: The current scandal involving the Veterans Administration is a national scandal. Young American men and women have served bravely in foreign adventures of dubious justification. They deserve better.

And I’m sure the tea party Republicans will very quickly forget their cuts and votes against veterans benefits. They will vent and carry on in front of the cameras.

If the people in the states that send so many to Washington want that type of representation, ignorant and mean-spirited, then fine. But keep them at home. Let them be mayors, governors or members of the state legislature. But don’t inflict them on the rest of the nation.

TOM MIELCZAREK

MADISONVILLE

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